Leonard Cohen has died

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Singer, songwriter, and poet Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82. A cause of death has yet to be announced, but his estate said that there will be a memorial for the Canadian musician in Los Angeles soon.

Cohen’s five-decade-long career covered a range of genres, literary structures, and themes, and many wondered after Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for literature if he might too be considered for the award.

He was perhaps best known for the song “Hallelujah,” released on his 1984 album, Various Positions, as well as other poetic ballads, including “Suzanne,” “Famous Blue Raincoat,” and “So Long, Marianne.”

In October, Cohen said in a New Yorker profile that he was “ready to die.” Speaking about set of unfinished poems and songs, Cohen said:

I don’t think I’ll be able to finish those songs. Maybe, who knows? And maybe I’ll get a second wind, I don’t know. But I don’t dare attach myself to a spiritual strategy. I don’t dare do that. I’ve got some work to do. Take care of business. I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.

Soon after the interview was released, Cohen changed his mind, saying that he intended to live forever: “I hope we can do this again. I intend to stick around until 120.” Cohen’s last album, You Want It Darker, was released last month to positive reviews.